Infection in pregnancy and/or after your baby’s birth should never be ignored. Some infections can progress to a more serious situation known as sepsis, where the infection spreads to the blood stream and through the whole body. If left untreated sepsis can lead to shock, organ failure and death. Whilst most women do not suffer from infection or sepsis during or after pregnancy, it needs to be recognised and treated quickly if they do.
Signs of sepsis
The first signs of infection are usually a rise in your temperature, heart rate and breathing. You may also feel unwell, have chills and flu-like symptoms and a worrying pain in your tummy and/or diarrhoea. Sepsis can progress very quickly so it is important to seek advice if you are concerned about your health.
How can infection in pregnancy or after childbirth be prevented?
Good personal hygiene helps. This can include: daily showers/baths, proper hand washing and drying, perineal hygiene to include keeping the perineal area (between the vagina and back passage) clean, dry with frequent changes of maternity/sanitary pads. It is important to wash your hands before and after going to the toilet and changing maternity/sanitary pads.
When am I more likely to get an infection or sepsis?
Sepsis may happen in pregnancy or after your baby is born. The risk of getting an infection is increased in the following circumstances:
After having a miscarriage or an ERPC (ERPC – evacuation of retained products of conception is a surgical procedure to remove tissue from the womb)
Premature rupture of membranes (when your waters break long before your baby is due)
If your waters break more than 24 hours before your baby is born
If you develop a urine infection (UTI)
If your baby was born prematurely/early (before its due date)
After you have had your baby – this is the most common time for serious infection to develop; especially if you had your baby by an emergency caesarean section, by forceps or vacuum delivery, or if you had a perineal wound or an episiotomy).
When should I contact the midwife or doctor?
You should contact your GP or the maternity unit if you are worried, unwell and/or if you notice any of the following:
Pain/burning on passing urine or struggling to pass urine, this could be a symptom of a urinary tract infection
Vaginal discharge which may be foul smelling and/or an unusual colour, this could be a sign of a genital tract infection (vaginal/womb infection)
Abdominal pain that does not seem to be getting better with simple analgesia, this could be a sign of womb/wound infection or abscess
Chills, flu type symptoms or feeling faint and unwell
Fast breathing or shortness of breath
Fast heart rate
Persistent cough with or with sputum, shortness of breath or chest pain could be a sign of chest infection or pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung)
A wound that is not healing well, broken down or is red
Severe pain in one area of breast
Diarrhoea
Sudden increase in vaginal bleeding (after your baby is born).
Contact the maternity unit where you gave birth, your midwife or GP for urgent advice.For more information:
Infection in pregnancy and/or after your baby’s birth should never be ignored. Some infections can progress to a more serious situation known as sepsis, where the infection spreads to the blood stream and through the whole body. If left untreated sepsis can lead to shock, organ failure and death. Whilst most women do not suffer from infection or sepsis during or after pregnancy, it needs to be recognised and treated quickly if they do.
